Madison County leaders: Health agency needs "swift actions"

Madison County leaders are moving forward with a plan that will force the county-run certified home health care agency to improve or face restructuring or privatization.

Supervisors unanimously agreed to create a task force to find ways to take "swift actions to improve county operation" of the agency. The home health care agency provides skilled nursing care and therapy to more than 200 homebound patients throughout the county.

The group also was charged with soliciting proposals from private operators.

The agency has faced much scrutiny after state assessments identified repeated deficiencies. The agency also ran up a $388,835 budget deficit in 2009.

The 44-employee unit includes 33 nurses who visit patients in their homes. In April, each nurse averaged 2.63 home visits per day, below the standard of six visits per eight-hour day suggested by a national home health care association.

On Tuesday, county leaders reiterated that the services can be provided through a county-operated program or through the private sector.